Prof. Yuto Kitamura explores the hidden crisis within Japan's highly ranked education system, focusing on the alarming rise of school non-attendance (futoko) and social withdrawal (hikikomori). He explains that while Japanese students excel academically, they rank among the lowest globally in self-efficacy. To address this, Kitamura advocates for the creation of "ibasho", which are safe and accepting spaces that offer alternatives to rigid traditional schooling. He connects the youth crisis to broader socio-economic issues, including weakened community ties, inflexible corporate hiring practices, and an educational culture that heavily penalizes failure. While supporting new inquiry-based learning models, he warns that curriculum changes must not leave under-resourced students behind. Kitamura urges educators and policymakers to increase systemic flexibility, provide robust safety nets, reduce the administrative burden on teachers, and ultimately trust young people to navigate their own paths.

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In this episode, we discussed with Minoru Okusa from NABIDO, a social cooperative that has supported socially withdrawn youths, commonly known as hikikomori for over 13 years, to explore the issue of youth isolation in modern society. He points out that young people withdrawing from society are not simply lazy; rather, they are burned out from perfectionism and the overwhelming pressure to meet expectations. To address this, he advises parents to stop trying to force change and instead leave their children as they are (NABIDO in Korean) which means let me alone, emphasizing that genuine recovery begins when parents acknowledge their own flaws. He also highlights that isolation stems not just from individual psychological factors, but from structural issues like meritocracy, an unstable job market, and a factory-like school system that fuels intense competition. Finally, noting how conversational AI has emerged as a helpful and compassionate tool for counseling, he adds that the ultimate goal of support is not merely getting young people out of their rooms, but helping them reach complete self-acceptance.

This episode is hosted by Dr. Adam Lang. Please subscribe to the podcast through Apple, Spotify, Amazon Music or Audible. You may also follow @c4cpodcast.bsky.social on Bluesky. The Conversations4Citizenship Podcast has launched Crossings, a new project website featuring research and educational resources on citizenship and human rights education, while creating opportunities for greater interaction with our listeners. We’d love to hear your thoughts and feedback on our episodes, and we invite you to explore our new membership programme, launching this November! Sign up on the Crossings website below to explore a wider range of resources and podcast episodes.

We look forward to hearing your feedback. If you would like to explore participating in our podcast and submit your blog post to the C4C, do not hesitate to reach out through the engagement menu of Crossings or email us at conversations4citizenship@gmail.com

If you are curious about Socially Withdrawn youths or Hikikomori and Mr. Minoru Ohkusa, please read his works linked below.

• Qinmin, Jiang. (Director). (2025). JUN AI | The Power of Silence│A Story of Reconciliation [Film]. YouTube.
• Family Transformation Roadmap [In Korean]
• Navido homepage : https://www.navido.kr/ [In Korean]

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This episode of Conversations4Citizenship examined from multiple angles the serious educational and social crisis behind the "Cockroach Janata Party (CJP)" movement led by Indian Gen Z. Having lost deep trust in the system due to incidents such as the NEET medical entrance exam paper leaks, Indian youth transformed the insulting label thrown at them into a proactive symbol for non-violent digital solidarity and the restoration of lost dignity. Dr. Rita Shome pointed out that this desperate cry from the youth should not be reduced to a mere political protest, but rather embraced as powerful feedback directed at society and educational institutions. In particular, it was deeply resonant to emphasize going beyond a culture that evaluates an individual student's worth solely based on grades and certificates, and instead actively fostering "capability-centered learners" who can confront injustice non-violently and communicate healthily with others. Furthermore, it was a valuable conversation that made us realize once again how urgent the task is today to practice cyber ethics within social media spaces and cultivate responsible digital citizens.

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• Tweet us @c4c_ed and @stellarcheong
• Bluesky @c4cpodcast.bsky.social.
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